Game instructional apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable instructional apparatus for visually demonstrating play arrangements on a playing area and facilitating recording the play arrangements. The apparatus comprises a folder having first and second foldably interconnected substantially rectangular sections, the first of which has a playing area printed thereon with a storage pocket therebelow for storing magnetic playing pieces therein. The magnetic playing pieces are adapted to be positioned at various locations on the playing area while being magnetically attracted thereto during the demonstration of various play arrangements. The second section has means for accommodating a pad of paper sheets against the inner face thereof with the lower edges of the sheets spaced from the lower edge of the second section so as to nestingly accommodate the storage pocket therebelow when the folder is closed with the playing pieces positioned in the pocket.

United States Patent Fairleigh 151 3,685,170 1 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54]GAME INSTRUCTIONAL APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Kenneth F. Fairleigh, 3500Tinkerbell Lane, Mecklenburg, NC. 28210 22] Filed: Jan. 19,1971

211 Appl.No.: 135,205

[52] US. Cl. ..35/29 R, 35/7 A, 281/31 [51] Int. Cl. ..G09b l/08 [58]Field ofSearch ..273/130 A, 131 AD,

134 A, 134 AB, 273/135 AD, 136 B; 35/7 R, 7 A, 29 R, 2; 2 1/29, 30, 31;402/505 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,579,105 12/1951Baldine ..35/29 R 2,791,040 5/1957 Santorelli ...35/62 2,828,975 4/1958Wright ..281/31 x 2,941,314 6/1960 Schwieger ..'...35/7 R x FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,208 1914 Great Britain PrimaryExaminer-Harland S. Skogquist Att0rney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park &Gibson 1 1 ABSTRACT A portable instructional apparatus for visuallydemonstrating play arrangements on a playing area and facilitatingrecording the play arrangements. The apparatus comprises a folder havingfirst and second foldably interconnected substantially rectangularsections, the first of which has a playing area printed thereon with astorage pocket therebelow for storing magnetic playing piecesthereinqThe magnetic playing pieces are adapted to be positioned atvarious locations on the playing area while being magnetically attractedthereto during the demonstration of various play arrangements. Thesecond section has means for accommodating a pad of paper sheets againstthe inner face thereof with the lower edges of the sheets spaced fromthe lower edge of the second section so as to nestingly accommodate thestorage pocket therebelow when the folder is closed with the playingpieces positioned in the pocket.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GAME INSTRUCTIONAL APPARATUS It is an objectof this invention to provide an improved foldable game instructionalapparatus which is of simple, lightweight construction for use withmagnetic playing pieces and having means for accommodating a pad ofpaper sheets for recording various play arrangements thereon as well asmeans for storing the playing pieces therein when they are not beingused and without distorting the opposing sections of the apparatus orimparting undesirable bulk to the apparatus when the opposing sectionsare folded together.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a gameinstructional apparatus comprising a folder which includes first andsecond foldably interconnected substantially rectangular'planarsections, each section comprising an outer panel and an inner panel. Afirst metal plate means is positioned between the outer and inner panelsof the first section with means defining a simulated playing area suchas a basketball court or a football field, on the inner panel of thefirst section. A pocket is formed on the lower portion of the innerpanel of the first section below the playing area, and a plurality ofmagnetic playing pieces are removably stored in the pocket, magneticallyattracted against the inner panel of the first section by the platemeans, and adapted to be positioned on the playing area. A pad of papersheets is carried by the second section and positioned against the innerpanel thereof, with the lower edge of the pad being spaced from thelower edge of the second section to nestingly accommodate the pocketbelow the pad when the folder is closed.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is aperspective view of one embodiment of the foldable game instructionalapparatus with opposing sections thereof occupying open position andshowing a simulated playing area in the form of a basketball court onone of the sections of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the apparatus ofFIG. 1, showing the opposing sections thereof in folded or closedcondition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, on a reduced scale, but omitting thepad of paper sheets therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the apparatustaken substantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and showing how the pocketin which the magnetic playing pieces are stored is nestinglyaccommodated below the pad of paper sheets when the folder of theapparatus is closed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 55 in FIG. 1; and

playing pieces associated therewith, both embodiments of the gameinstructional apparatus may be identical. Therefore, only the firstembodiment of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-5 will be described indetail, and like parts of the second embodiment of the apparatus willbear the same reference characters, with the prime notation added, whereapplicable.

The game instructional apparatus comprises a portable folder 10including first and second foldably interconnected substantiallyrectangular planar sections broadly designated at 11 and at 12,respectively. Each folder section ll, 12 comprises an outersubstantially rectangular panel 13 and an inner substantiallyrectangular panel 14 which are preferably formed of pliable plasticsheet material and are fused or otherwise suitably secured togetheralongthe perimetrical edges thereof. Adjacent longitudinal edges of thepanels l3, 14 of first section 11 preferably are formed integral withthe proximal longitudinal edges of the respective panels 13, 14 ofsecond section 12' by interconnecting hinge portions 15 therebetweenforming a fold line between sections 11, 12.

Suitable 'indicia defines a simulated playing area 16, representative ofa basketball court in this instance, on the exposed face of the innerpanel 14 of first folder section 11, which exposed face may be termed asthe inner face of first folder section 11. It is preferred thatplayingarea 16 is printed on the inner face of folder section 11,although it may be applied thereto or engraved thereon. in any desiredmanner.

A plurality of magnetic playing pieces are adapted to be positioned onand manually moved from place to place on the playing field 16 by aninstructor or other person so as to demonstrate various playarrangements. The playing pieces maybe of any desired size, withinreason, and they also may be of any desired configuration. Since theplaying pieces may represent opposing basketball teams and a basketball,ten relatively large magnetic playing pieces 20, and one relativelysmall playing piece 21 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 so that half of theplaying pieces 20 may represent one team and the other half of theplaying pieces 20 may represent an opposing team, while the relativelysmall playing piece 21 represents the basketball. If so desired, theplaying pieces 20 representing one team may be of a different color,shape, or other contrasting appearance relative to the playing pieces 20of the other team. In order to retain the playing pieces 20, 21 in thedesired locations on the playing field 16 while permitting the same tobe readily moved about on the playing field, each playing piece 20, 21may be in the form of a permanent magnet and, if so desired, a suitableplastic, ceramic or other coating may be applied to the visible surfacesof the permanent magnet other than those surfaces thereof which engagethe inner panel 14 of first folder section 11. To magnetically attractthe playing pieces against the inner panel 14 of first folder section 11, a magnetically attractable means underlies the playing area and apocket to be presently described. Accordingly, a ferrous metal platemeans 23 is snugly positioned between the outer and inner panels 13, 14of first folder section 11. Plate means 23 should be of such rigidity asto aid in maintaining first folder section 11 in flat substantiallyrigid condition during use of the apparatus.

To provide for storage of the playing pieces 20, 21 when they are not inuse and to facilitate carrying the same from place to place with thefolder 10, means are provided forming a pocket 24 on the lower portionof the inner panel 14 of the first folder section 11 below the playingarea 16. As shown, pocket 24 is formed by means of an elongate strip ofsubstantially transparent pliable plastic sheet material which extendstransversely of the overlies the lower portion of inner panel 14 offirst folder section 11. The opposing end edge portions and thelongitudinal lower edge portion of pocket strip 25 are fused orotherwise suitably secured to folder section 11, thus providing an opentop to the pocket 24 into which any magnetic playing pieces positionedon the simulated playing area 16 may be readily moved simply by theinstructor sliding the playing pieces along the exposed face of innerpanel 14 of section 11 and into the pocket 24. In this regard, it shouldbe noted that the metal plate means 23 also serves to retain themagnetic playing pieces 20, 21 in the pocket 24 when the playing piecesare stored therein and, since the pocket forming strip 25 is of pliablematerial, the instructor may eject the playing pieces from pocket 24simply be pressing his fingers against pocket strip 25 while pushingupwardly against the playing pieces then in the pocket 24.

In order that the instructor may record various play arrangements,second section 12 is provided with means for attaching a pad or tablet26 of sheets of writing paper to the inner face thereof so that the pad26 is carried by and positioned against the inner face of sec tion 12with each sheet or a substantial number of the sheets of the pad 26 alsohaving a simulated playing area 26a printed thereon and corresponding insize and configuration to the playing area 16. To stabilize andremovably attach the pad 26 against the inner face of second foldersection 12, the upper edges of the sheets of pad 26 are adhesively orotherwise suitably bound together and the inner panel 14 of sectionl2-is provided with an elongate slot 14a therethrough. Slot 14a extendssubstantially parallel with and is spaced The second folder section 12is also arranged for the storing of notes or other small articles at theconvenience of the instructor. To this end, the inner panel 14 of secondfolder section 12 is provided with an additionally elongate slot 14btherethrough which is spaced below and extends in substantially parallelrelation with the first-named slot 140. The additional slot 14b servesas an opening to a second pocket defined between the outer and innerpanels 13, 14 of the second section, or between panel 14 and the backleaf 26b of pad 26. It is apparent that the instructor need only liftthe lower portion of the sheets of paper of pad 26 away from thedownwardly from the upper edge of second folder sec- I tion 12 and isadapted to receive therein the usual relatively heavy back leaf 26b ofcardboard or the like on the pad 26 (FIG. 4). Thus, the back leaf 26b ispositioned between panels 13, 14 of second folder section 12 to hold thesheets of pad 26 against the exposed face of the inner panel 14 ofsecond folder section 12. Preferably, a substantially rigid stiffeningplate 30 of any suitable material, such as cardboard or the like, issnugly positioned between the outer and inner panels 13, 14 of secondfolder section 12 to also lend rigidity to the second folder section 12.

It is to be noted that the lower edge of pad 26 is spaced a substantialdistance above the lower edge of second folder section 12 so as toprovide a substantial exposed planar area of inner panel 14 of secondfolder section 12 below pad 26. Also, the distance between the loweredges of pad 26 and second folder section 12 is greater than thedistance from the upper edge of pocket forming strip 25 to the loweredge of first folder section 1 1 so that, when folder 10 is closed withthe pad 26 positioned between folder sections 11, 12, pocket 24 isnestingly accommodatedv below pad 26 without distorting the foldableopposing sections of the folder and without imparting undesirable bulkthereto.

inner face of second folder section 12 to facilitate inserting notes andthe like in slot 14b as shown, for example, in FIG 6.

As heretofore stated, the second embodiment of the foldable gameinstructional apparatus shown in FIG. 6 may be identical to the firstembodiment and may differ therefrom only in the type of playing fieldarea and in the number of playing pieces being used. Accordingly, itwill be observed in FIG. 6 that the innerface of first folder section 11 has indicia thereon defining a playing area 16' representative ofone-half of the length of a football playing field, and each or most ofthe sheets 26a of the pad or tablet 26 in FIG. 6 also have a simulatedfootball playing field printed thereon which is of about the same sizeand configuration as the simulated football playing field 16'. Also, thepocket 24' in FIG. 6 may have 23 playing pieces 20 stored therein; 11playing pieces for each of the opposing football teams, and one playingpiece 21 representing the football. In other respects, the secondembodiment of the foldable game instructional apparatus shown in FIG. 6may be identical to the first embodiment and, accordingly, a furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A game instructional apparatus comprising a folder including firstand second foldably interconnected substantially rectangular planarsections, means defining a simulated playing area on the inner face ofsaid first section, magnetically attractable means underlying saidplaying area, means forming a pocket secured to the lower portion ofsaid first section below said playing area, a plurality of magneticplaying pieces magnetically attractable to said playing area and adaptedto be removably stored in said pocket when not in use, and meansprovided on the inner face of said second section for attaching a pad ofpaper sheets thereto.

2. A game instructional apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidmagnetically attractable means also underlies said pocket to aid inretaining said playing nected substantially rectangular planar sections,each section comprising an outer panel and an inner panel, meansdefining a simulated playing area on the inner panel of said firstsection, means forming a pocket on the lower portion of the inner panelof said first section below said playing area, a ferrous metal platemeans positioned between the outer and inner panels of said firstsection and underlying said playing area and said pocket, a plurality ofmagnetic playing pieces stored in said pocket and adapted to be removedtherefrom and positioned on said playing area, a pad of paper sheetscarried by said second section and positioned against the inner panelthereof, and the lower edge of said pad being spaced from the lower edgeof said second section to nestingly accommodate said pocket below saidpad when said folder is closed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pocket is open adjacentsaid playing area to facilitate moving said magnetic playing pieces fromsaid playing area into said pocket.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inner' panel of saidsecond section is provided with an elongate slot therethrough extendingsubstantially parallel with one edge of said second section and adaptedto receive therein a back leaf of said pad of paper sheets for retainingand stabilizing said pad relative to said second section.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said slot is located belowand extends parallel with the upper edge of said second section.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the inner panel of saidsecond section is provided with an additional elongate slot therethroughspaced below and extending substantially parallel with said first-namedslot and serving as an opening to a second pocket defined

1. A game instructional apparatus comprising a folder including firstand second foldably interconnected substantially rectangular planarsections, means defining a simulated playing area on the inner face ofsaid first section, magnetically attractable means underlying saidplaying area, means forming a pocket secured to the lower portion ofsaid first section below said playing area, a plurality of magneticplaying pieces magnetically attractable to said playing area and adaptedto be removably stored in said pocket when not in use, and meansprovided on the inner face of said second section for attaching a pad ofpaper sheets thereto.
 2. A game instructional apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said magnetically attractable means also underlies saidpocket to aid in retaining said playing pieces stored therein when notin use.
 3. A game instructional apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid pocket forming means comprises an elongate strip of pliable sheetmaterial secured along one longitudinal edge and opposing end edgesthereof to the inner panel of said first section.
 4. A gameinstructional apparatus comprising a folder including first and secondfoldably interconnected substantially rectangular planar sections, eachsection comprising an outer panel and an inner panel, means defining asimulated playing area on the inner panel of said first section, meansforming a pocket on the lower portion of the inner panel of said firstsection below said playing area, a ferrous metal plate means positionedbetween the outer and inner panels of said first section and underlyingsaid playing area and said pocket, a plurality of magnetic playingpieces stored in said pocket and adapted to be removed therefrom andpositioned on said playing area, a pad of paper sheets carried by saidsecond section and positioned against the inner panel thereof, and thelower edge of said pad being spaced from the lower edge of said seconDsection to nestingly accommodate said pocket below said pad when saidfolder is closed.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pocketis open adjacent said playing area to facilitate moving said magneticplaying pieces from said playing area into said pocket.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the inner panel of said second section isprovided with an elongate slot therethrough extending substantiallyparallel with one edge of said second section and adapted to receivetherein a back leaf of said pad of paper sheets for retaining andstabilizing said pad relative to said second section.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein said slot is located below and extendsparallel with the upper edge of said second section.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the inner panel of said second section isprovided with an additional elongate slot therethrough spaced below andextending substantially parallel with said first-named slot and servingas an opening to a second pocket defined between the outer and innerpanels of said second section for storing instructor''s notes and thelike therein.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said meansdefining a playing area comprises printed indicia representing theplaying area, and sheets of said pad having printed indicia thereoncorresponding to said playing area.